Method and apparatus for receiving, storing and providing data corresponding to geometrically describable raw materials

Abstract

Apparatus and method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items corresponding to geometrically describable materials based upon a profile specified by a user includes, storing data items in a data base. Each data item includes geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters identifying characteristics of an item offered for sale by an advertiser. A profile is generated by a user which includes geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters identifying characteristics of an item sought for purchase by the user. The profile identified by the user is compared to each data item stored in the data base and data items are identified which match the profile. The data item identified are provided to the user in accordance with the user's specific delivery instructions.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items corresponding to geometrically describable raw materials based upon a request profile specified by an information client, the method comprising the steps of: a) storing in a data base, a plurality of data items including a first plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters identifying characteristics of an item offered for sale by a supplier;   b) receiving a request profile from an information client, the request profile including a second plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters identifying characteristics of an item sought by the information client;   c) comparing the request profile having the second plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters with each of the plurality of data items having the first plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters;   d) identifying each of the plurality of data items having the first plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters which match the second plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters of the request profile; and   e) providing each of the plurality of data items identified in step d to the information clients; wherein the first plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters for each data item has a first plurality of weight and measure units associated therewith; and wherein the second plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters for the profile has a second plurality of weight and measure units associated therewith; and wherein step b further comprises the step of:     normalizing the second plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters having the second plurality of weight and measure units associated therewith to correlate with the first plurality of weight and measure units.   
     
     
       2. The method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items as defined by claim 1, wherein prior to step e), the method further comprises the steps of: determining a method of transmission of data items that match the second plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters of the request profile.   
     
     
       3. The method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items as defined by claim 1, wherein prior to step a), the method further comprises the steps of: 1) receiving a request from a supplier to store a data item in the data base;   2) responsive to prompts provided by the programmable computer, receiving the first plurality of geometrically descriptive terms corresponding to the supplier's data item; and   3) combining the plurality of geometrically descriptive terms provided in step 2) to generate a data item.   
     
     
       4. The method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items as defined by claim 3, wherein prior to step 3, the method further comprises: determining whether the first plurality of geometrically descriptive terms that have been received is sufficient to create a data item.   
     
     
       5. The method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items as defined by claim 1, wherein prior to step a, the method further comprises the steps of: determining whether the supplier is communicating with the programmable computer via one of tone, computer data, voice, fax and video data.   
     
     
       6. The method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items as defined by claim 1, wherein step b further comprises the steps of: providing prompts from the programmable computer for response by the information client to provide the second plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters.   
     
     
       7. The method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items as defined by claim 1, wherein prior to step (a), the method further comprising the steps of: responsive to a prompt provided by the programmable computer, receiving a passcode from the supplier and confirming that the received passcode is valid.   
     
     
       8. The method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items as defined by claim 7, wherein if the passcode is not valid, setting-up a new account for the supplier. 
     
     
       9. The method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items as defined by claim 1, wherein prior to step (b), the method further comprises the steps of: responsive to a prompt provided by the programmable computer, receiving a passcode from the information client and confirming that the received passcode is valid.   
     
     
       10. The method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items as defined by claim 9, wherein if the passcode is not valid, setting up a new account for the information client. 
     
     
       11. The method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items as defined by claim 1, wherein step e) further comprises the steps of: 1) obtaining a pre-defined receiving instructions from information client account information; and   2) transmitting the list of data items in accordance with the information client's predefined receiving format.   
     
     
       12. The method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items as defined by claim 1, wherein step e) further comprises the steps of: 1) determining how the information client wants the list of data items transmitted; and   2) transmitting the list of data items in accordance with the information client's transmission choice selection.   
     
     
       13. The method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items as defined by claim 1, wherein after step e) the method further comprises the steps of: determining whether the information client has requested transmission of a voice message to a supplier having a data item identified in step d;   if the information client has requested transmission of a voice message, recording a voice message generated by the information client; and   transmitting the recorded voice message to a supplier having a data item identified in step d.   
     
     
       14. The method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items as defined by claim 1, wherein after step e), the method further comprises the steps of: determining whether the information client has requested transmission of a facsimile message of the request profile to a supplier having a data item identified in step d; and   if the information client has requested transmission of a facsimile message, transmitting the facsimile message of the request profile to a supplier having a data item identified from the list of data items.   
     
     
       15. The method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items as defined by claim 1, wherein after step e) the method further comprises the steps of: determining whether the information client has requested that a supplier having a data item identified in step d) be paged;   if the information client has requested that a supplier be paged, obtaining a telephone number from the information client to be provided to the supplier; and   paging the supplier having a data item identified in the list of data items to transmit the telephone number provided by the purchaser.   
     
     
       16. The method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items as defined by claim 1 wherein after step e) the method further comprises the steps of: determining whether the information client has requested transmission of a message regarding the request profile via computer to a supplier having a data item identified in step d, and   if the information client has requested transmission of a message regarding the request profile via computer, transmitting the message regarding the request profile via computer to a supplier having a data item identified in the list of data items.   
     
     
       17. Apparatus for providing a list of data items corresponding to geometrically describable raw materials based upon a request profile specified by an information client comprising: means for storing in a data base, a plurality of data items including a first plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters identifying characteristics of an item offered for sale by a supplier;   means for receiving a request profile from an information client, the request profile including a second plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters identifying characteristics of an item sought by the information client;   means for comparing the request profile having the second plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters with each of the plurality of data items having the first plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters;   means for identifying each of the plurality of data items having the first plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters which match the second plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters of the request profile; and   means for providing each of the plurality of data items to the information client; wherein the first plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters for each data item has a first plurality of weight and measure units associated therewith; and wherein the second plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters for the profile has a second plurality of weight and measure units associated therewith; the apparatus further comprising:     means for normalizing the second plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters having the second plurality of weight and measure units associated therewith to correlate with the first plurality of weight and measure units.   
     
     
       18. Apparatus as defined by claim 17, which further comprises: means for determining a method of transmission of data items that match the second plurality of geometrically descriptive terms and trading parameters of the request profile.   
     
     
       19. A method employing a programmable computer for providing a list of data items based upon a request profile specified by an information client, the method comprising the steps of: a) storing in a data base, a plurality of data items including a first plurality of terms and trading parameters identifying characteristics of an item offered for sale by a supplier;   b) receiving a request profile from an information client, the request profile including a second plurality of terms and trading parameters identifying characteristics of an item sought by the information client;   c) comparing the request profile having the second plurality of terms and trading parameters with each of the plurality of data items having the first plurality of terms and trading parameters;   d) identifying each of the plurality of data items having the first plurality of terms and trading parameters which match the second plurality of terms and trading parameters of the request profile; and   e) providing each of the plurality of data items identified in step d to the information client; wherein the first plurality of terms and trading parameters for each data item has a first plurality of units associated therewith; and wherein the second plurality of terms and trading parameters for the profile has a second plurality of units associated therewith; and wherein step b further comprises the steps of:     normalizing the second plurality of terms and trading parameters having the second plurality of units associated therewith to correlate with the first plurality of units.   
     
     
       20. Apparatus for providing a list of data items based upon a request profile specified by an information client comprising: means for storing in a data base, a plurality of data items including a first plurality of terms and trading parameters identifying characteristics of an item offered for sale by a supplier;   means for receiving a request profile from an information client, the request profile including a second plurality of terms and trading parameters identifying characteristics of an item sought by the information client;   means for comparing the request profile having the second plurality of terms and trading parameters with each of the plurality of data items having the first plurality of terms and trading parameters;   means for identifying each of the plurality of data items having the first plurality of terms and trading parameters which match the second plurality of terms and trading parameters of the request profile; and   means for providing each of the plurality of data items to the information client; wherein the first plurality of terms and trading parameters for each data item has a first plurality of units associated therewith; and wherein the second plurality of terms and trading parameters for the profile has a second plurality of units associated therewith; the apparatus further comprising:     means for normalizing the second plurality of terms and trading parameters having the second plurality of units associated therewith to correlate with the first plurality of units.   
     
     
       21. A method of employing a programmable computer for storing a plurality of data items, each data item including a plurality of terms and trading parameters having a plurality of standard units associated therewith, the plurality of terms and trading parameters and the plurality of standard units identifying characteristics of an item offered for sale by a corresponding supplier, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a first data item corresponding to an object being offered for sale by a supplier, the first data item including a plurality of first terms and trading parameters and a plurality of first units associated therewith;   determining a relationship between the plurality of first units and the plurality of standard units; and   normalizing the plurality of first terms and trading parameters having the plurality of first units to a plurality of converted terms and trading parameters associated with the plurality standard units; and   storing data items corresponding to at least one of the plurality of first terms and trading parameters and the relationship between the first plurality of units and the plurality of standard units, and the converted plurality of first terms and trading parameters in the programmable computer;   wherein the programmable computer receives a request profile specified by an information client, the programmable computer correlates the request profile to the stored data items, and advises the information client as to which stored data items most closely match the request profile.